The administration of President Donald Trump has initiated an expensive recruitment drive to enlist thousands of new immigration agents, promising bonuses of up to $50,000, educational benefits, and job security at a time when other federal agencies face budget cuts.
According to data from the Associated Press, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has invested over $6.5 million in television advertisements across more than a dozen U.S. cities, including Miami, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, and New York. This campaign is designed to attract local police officers and former military personnel who are dissatisfied with their cities' limitations on cooperating with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.
The 30-second commercials feature visuals of agents making arrests and urban scenes while a voiceover states, "You made a vow to protect and serve, to keep your family and city safe. Yet in sanctuary cities, you're ordered to stand aside while dangerous illegals roam free."
ICE Recruitment Surge Amid Budget Challenges
This media blitz is part of Trump's plan to hire 10,000 new deportation officers by the end of the year, within a $30 billion budget allocated to strengthen ICE. This amount is part of a larger $76.5 billion request for the agency, which is ten times its previous budget, included in the tax cut and public spending bill passed in July.
While other federal departments remain closed due to a budget impasse in Congress, the deportation machinery continues to operate actively and is well-funded. ICE has received over 150,000 applications and extended 18,000 job offers since the campaign's launch in September, according to official figures.
Public Backlash and Community Concerns
On the social media platform X, ICE shared recruitment messages with the slogan "Answer the call to service" alongside phrases like "Defend your family, defend your neighbor, defend the homeland." In another post, the agency reiterated the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy towards illegal immigration, encouraging those in the country unlawfully to "self-deport," offering even a free flight and a $1,000 stipend.
The campaign has sparked criticism in several cities, particularly those upholding immigrant protection policies, such as Boston, Chicago, and Albuquerque. Local authorities have accused the government of attempting to undermine community autonomy and promote a narrative of fear.
Civil rights organizations have warned that the initiative is a step towards normalizing mass raids and the criminalization of migrants, while local police departments struggle to retain staff and cannot compete with the federal government's economic incentives.
Trump's Immigration Policies: Key Questions Answered
What bonuses are being offered to new ICE recruits?
Bonuses of up to $50,000, along with educational benefits and job security, are being offered to attract new ICE agents.
How much has ICE spent on recruitment advertisements?
ICE has spent over $6.5 million on television ads in various cities across the United States as part of its recruitment campaign.
What is the goal of the recruitment campaign?
The campaign aims to hire 10,000 new deportation officers by the end of the year to strengthen ICE's enforcement capabilities.